812-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, November 2, 2002 Urban Upbringing Didn’t Erase Desire For Agricultural Careers LOU ANN GOOD Food And Family Features Editor LANCASTER (Lancaster Co.) Both Amy and Andy Bradford grew up in urban communities. They tried to stuff their fascina tion for animals and country life into hobbies and interests, and find compatible careers for their city-bred upbringings. They couldn’t. The desire to follow their pas sions for agriculture increased during their college years. Both made individual choices that have resulted in them finding niches in Lancaster County agri culture. Only after college gradu ation and with careers firmly en trenched in agriculture did the two find each other. “Andy and I are living proof that one doesn’t need to grow up on a farm to work in agricul ture,” Amy said. “If you have the desire and iniative to pursue an agricultural field you can.” Amy is assistant vice president for the Penn Ag Council, and her husband is president of the Lan caster County Poultry Associa tion. Amy grew up in college com munities where her father was in academia. She wanted a horse, so her parents allowed her to join a 4-H club. But the horse never materialized, and Amy discov ered sheep. She was thrilled when an acquaintance offered a spot in his bam for her to raise 4-H mar ket lamb projects for several years. She loved visiting farms and working with animals. Her family encouraged her to attend one of the Big 10 colleges, and Amy selected Michigan State University. But after the first se mester, Amy knew studying his tory wasn’t for her. In despera tion, she flipped through a listing of course choices. The words “ag Adams County 4-H Leaders, Teens Honored For Service GETTYSBURG (Adams Co.) Adams County 4-H leaders and teens were honored recently for their years of dedicated serv Ellen Black, left, 4-H or ganizational leader in the Upper Adams 4-H Club is presented the Adams County Chamber of Com merce “Someone Special Award” by Helen Rex. From left, Charles Sher man, Abbottstown; Donna Livelsberger, Gettysburg; and Karol Sherman, Ab bottstown are congratulat ed by Jane Ramsburg, president of 4-H Clubs of Adams County, Inc. for serving 20, 25, and 30 years respectively as volun teer 4-H leaders. Amy and Andy Bradford, who grew up in urban environ ments, independently sought agriculture careers, and later found each other. The couple believe their shared agricultural interests enhance their marriage. riculture and national resource communications” grabbed her at tention. “It was the first time I realized that I could actually make a ca reer in agricutural even if I didn’t grow up on a farm,” Amy said. She enjoyed the small classes, the hands-on activities, and not being a number despite attending a large university. She worked with the college media in news writing and photojournalism. After graduation, Amy filled an internship with the Pennsylva nia Beef Council. That’s when she first met Andy Bradford who later became her husband. He had grown up in Philadel- ice to Adams County youth through the 4-H program at the Annual 4-H Leaders’ and 4-H Achievement Night Banquet, held recently at the Centennial Fire Hall, Centennial. Earl and Lisa Dibert, Littles town; Sara Rudolph, Hanover; and Carlen Staub, McSherrys town, were recognized for 10 years of service with a plaque and gold clover pin. Ina and Bob Bucher, New Ox ford; Deb Flickinger, Gettysburg; Ivonne Gabrielson, Abbottstown; Amy Godfrey, New Oxford; and Sally Scholle, Littlestown, were recognized for IS years of service with a plaque and a pearl cen tered clover pin. Linda Oneto, Biglerville and Charles Sherman, Abbottstown were recognized for 20 years of service and received a plaque and diamond centered clover pin. Donna Liveisberger and Shir ley Smith received a silver tray and a clover lapel pin with an emerald center for 25 years of dedicated service. Karol Sher man, Abbottstown and Dan Hoff mai Gettysburg received a Re vere bowl and ruby centered clover pin for 30 years of service. Rick Foreman, auctioneer, was recognized for the Business “2002 Partner in 4-H” award. Rick has been a strong supporter of the 4-H program in many ways. Rick has donated his time and talents as an auctioneer for the Swine and Sheep Show and Sale for many years. He has also support ed the sale by purchasing ani mals. Bob and Ina Bucher were rec ognized as the 2002 “Individual phia. He figured since he loved animals that becoming a veteri narian was the closest he could get to an agriculture career. But at Penn State, Andy switched to Partners in 4-H” award. Bob and Ina have been 4-H leaders for IS years. Both have been instrumen tal in the inter-state exchange program, Senate, 4-H Fair, lead ers in the New Oxford 4-H Club, and have held key roles in 4-H Chicken Barbecues. Special me morial Awards were presented to the following 4-H members: Sara Oyier, Gettysburg, the Mrs. Ed ward Snyder Clothing Award; Kate Martin, Orrtanna, the Rob ert Lott Leadership Award; Kim Johnston, Gettysburg, the Clue Meyerhoffer Citizenship Award; Elizabeth Hoff, York Springs, the Larry Feeser, Sr. Swine Award; Emily Black, Aspers, the Lois Smith Gardening Award; Amy Flickinger, Biglerville, the Wil liam Miller Award; Stacey Men chey, Littlestown, the Rose Mur ren Award; Missy Jeffcoat, the Robert Heltibridle Award; Erin Davis, Orrtanna, the Olwyn Weant Fashion Revue Award; Emily Black, Aspers, the Freder ick J. Rarig Award; Kate Martin, Orrtanna the John Myers Award; and Emily Black, Aspers, the Eric Black award. 4-H members also received rec ognition in the 4-H National Rec ognition Award Program. The award was based upon the mem ber’s comprehensive record of ac tivities in 4-H and their excel lence within the specific program area. Senior Recognition award winners were Jonathan Murren, New Oxford; Missy Jeffcoat, Lit tlestown; Kimberly Johnston, Gettysburg; Emily Black, Aspers; Kate Martin, Orrtanna; Amanda Clowney, Gettysburg; Vincent Gilbert, York Springs; and Kara ag science courses. “I had nutrition classes in col lege and soon developed a knack for it,” Bradford said of decipher ing nutritional needs in birds. As a college senior, Bradford was elected president of the Poul try Science Club, which seems to have destined him for a poultry related career. Since then he has been employed by Pennfield Feeds, Perdue, and Wenger Feeds. He works with indepen dent layer customers for Wenger Feeds. Bradford’s experience in work ing with different aspects of the poultry industry has prepared him for his position as Lancaster County Poultry Association pres ident. This is his second term. Working with broiler and egg production and with both inde pendent and contract growers en ables him to grasp the complexity of the different problems each group faces. Coming from a nonagricultur al background also helps the Bradfords in their jobs. They be lieve in the importance of keep ing communication open between the urban and farm communities; otherwise, misconceptions devel op. “It’s important to listen to peo ple’s concerns and correct mis conceptions without offending people,” Bradford said. The From left, Adams County 4-H’ers Missy Jefteoat, Lit tlestown; Stacey Menchey, Littlestown; Sara Oyler, Get tysburg; Kate Martin, Orrtanna; and Kimberly Johnston, Gettysburg were recipients of special 4-H memorial awards. Johnston, Gettysburg. Junior Recognition award win ners were Sarah K. Myers, York Springs; Joel Gilbert, York Springs; Keira Shellehamer, New Oxford; Sara Oyler, Gettysburg; Courtney Meyer, Biglerville; Sarah Myers, Biglerville; and Zach Nell, Gettysburg. Four 4-H members were awarded the “I Dare You” Lead ership Award. The award honors 4-H teens for excellence in character, bal anced personal development, and leadership potential. Those re ceiving the award were: Julie Myers, Abbottstown; Becky Stock, New Oxford; Courtney Meyer, Biglerville; and Keira Shellehamer, York Springs. The 4-H Leaders and Achievement Banquet included the Annual Meeting of 4-H Clubs of Adams County, Inc. Elected by the 4-H leaders to serve three-year direc Poultry Association provides ed ucational seminars, educational dinners, and distributes literature to help the consumers under stand manure management, die tary cholesterol, and food safety issues associated with poultry and eggs.” In their separate careers, the Bradfords say their paths some times cross. “I chart my own in dependence. I’m not just known as Andy’s wife, nor is Andy known as a PennAg spouse, but both of us being in the industry has provided a wealth of inform ation and contacts. Although we work for different industries, we often deal with some of the same issues such as animal housing, biosecurity, and crop inputs,” Amy said. “It’s great to be able to discuss and understand the many different agriculture issues the farming community faces. Andy and I have lots of ftin discussions. It’s a bonus that we can represent agriculture together.” The couple enjoy visiting with friends and helping out with shearing during the season. “Who knows? Maybe we’ll have a farm someday,” Amy said. “But both of us are pretty content right now with our jobs. I think it’s important for people to know that no matter what their background, they can find a ca reer in agriculture.” From left, Bob and Ina Bucher were honored as the 2002 Individual “Part ners in 4-H” at the Annual Adams County 4-H Leaders and Achievement Banquet. Congratulating them is Jane Ramsburg, president of 4-H Clubs of Adams County, Inc. tor terms were: Deb Jeffcoat, Lit tlestown, Abe Bucher, Hanover, and Mary Jane Hilbert, Littles town.
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